Government raids and shuts down Chinese multinational company
Government raids and shuts down Chinese multinational company over illegal trading of Kenya Power metals
Government raids and shuts down Chinese multinational company over illegal trading of Kenya Power metals.
On Tuesday, June 13, Alex Wachira, the principal secretary for energy, oversaw a police operation against a multinational corporation in Athi River that was allegedly trafficking in scrap metal illegally.
Following the raid, the PS reported that the police had found important infrastructure that had allegedly been stolen from Kenya Power.
Wachira specifically disclosed that fuses at the business, which is owned by a Chinese national, were linked to stolen transformers.
The licenses of the Athi River-based business were revoked in response to the finding that they failed to inform the police that they were in possession of KPLC equipment.
Police also arrested the company owner, who was accused of economic sabotage.
According to the PS, the raid was critical to the government’s plan to expose cartel in the scrap metal business, making the utility firm run into losses.
“There are those who destroy the nation we are building. We have suspended the licence of this factory as we charge them in court.
“It will remain closed as we continue with investigations,” the PS stated, as further reports indicated that the multinational company was also raided in May 2023. Police reportedly recovered stolen copper metals in the undercover operation.
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On the other hand, Wachira warned that the government would closely monitor the copper and aluminum export business to curb the vice.
He also cautioned that foreigners risked being deported if found capable of interfering with key government infrastructure.
“If you are exporting aluminum and copper, you need to tell us where you are mining it from. If possible, we want the person deported. We are being pushed to ban aluminum and copper trade,” he added.
On May 20, Energy CS Davis Chirchir revealed that the government would consider reintroducing the ban on scrap metal dealings previously imposed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The CS lamented that several Kenyans suffered power outages due to stolen transformers.
“You are fighting a government with an army, and a police force, and one making laws. If we decide to wind up this sector we can do that in one day,” the CS threatened.
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